Shoe with adjustment pad unit

ABSTRACT

A shoe includes an upper having an opening extending from a top open end to an instep part thereof and defined by a pair of marginal edges provided with an enclosure member. A lining is disposed across the opening and having two opposite ends connected to an inner surface of the upper. An adjustment pad unit is provided between the closure member and the lining and is connected to the lining through a connecting unit. The adjustment pad unit includes a plurality of pad sections and has a thickness which can be adjusted by placing the pad sections in a stack, or by folding or unfolding the pad sections.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/639,859 filed by the applicant on Aug. 12, 2003,the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a pull-on type shoe, more particularly to apull-on type shoe having an adjustment pad unit to adjust the fitting ofthe shoe.

2. Description of the Related Art

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional pull-on type shoe includes a zipper 1which can be pulled upward or downward to close or open a shoe so thatthe shoe is easy to be put on or taken off by the user as compared tothe conventional shoe having a shoe lacing. However, since lasts formaking pull-on type shoes have standard sizes which may not suit thefoot of every user and since zippers cannot be adjusted to control thetightness or looseness of a shoe unlike shoe lacings, pull-on type shoesmay not be able to accommodate every user. Especially, the shoes may betoo loose at the instep parts thereof when they are worn by a userhaving thin feet.

In order to alleviate the aforesaid problem, manufacturers utilize a setof lasts having different degrees of fatness for the same standard sizeof shoes to produce shoes suitable for different users. However, the useof different sets of lasts increases the manufacturing cost andcomplicates the manufacturing process. In addition, shoe sellers, suchas wholesaler and retailers, have to bear a burden of inventory due tothe need to provide stock of shoes of the same size but having differentdegrees of fatness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a pull-on type shoewhich is adjustable at an instep part thereof. According to the presentinvention, a shoe comprises: an outsole; an upper having a bottom openend connected to the outsole, a top open end, and an instep part; alining disposed inside the upper and having an outer surface opposite toan inner surface of the upper; and an adjustment pad unit providedbetween the outer surface of the lining and the inner surface of theupper and mounted on one of the upper and the lining, the adjustment padunit including a plurality of pad sections.

Preferably, the shoe further comprises a connecting unit attached to thelining unit to mount the adjustment pad unit on the lining unit.Moreover, the upper further includes an opening which extends from thetop open end to the instep part, a pair of marginal edges defining theopening, and a closure member attached to and extending along themarginal edges to close or open the opening. The lining is disposedacross the opening and having two opposite ends connected to the innersurface of the upper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a conventional pull-on type shoe;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferredembodiment;

FIG. 4 is the same view as FIG. 3 but with an adjustment pad unit beingfolded;

FIG. 5 is the same view as FIG. 4 but with the adjustment pad unit beingfolded in a different position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second preferredembodiment;

FIG. 8 is the same view as FIG. 7 but with an adjustment pad unit beingfolded;

FIG. 9 is the same view as FIG. 8 but with the adjustment pad unit beingfolded in a different position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a fourth preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 11 but with an adjustment pad unitbeing folded;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of a sixth preferred embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 15 is the same view as FIG. 14 but with an adjustment pad unitbeing folded;

FIG. 16 is the same view as FIG. 15 but with the adjustment pad unitbeing folded in a different position;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view of a seventh preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is the same view as FIG. 17 but with an adjustment pad unitbeing folded;

FIG. 19 is the same view as FIG. 18 but with the adjustment pad unitbeing folded in a different position;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view of the eighth preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the ninth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 22 is the same view as FIG. 21 but with an adjustment pad unitbeing folded;

FIG. 23 is the same view as FIG. 22 but with the adjustment pad unitbeing folded in a different position;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the tenth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the eleventh preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the twelfth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote likeelements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first embodiment of a shoe according tothe present invention is shown to comprise an outsole 10, an upper 20, alining 30, a connecting unit 40, an adjustment pad unit 50 and alongitudinal enclosure member 60. The outsole 10 is fixed to the bottomof the upper 20. The upper 20 has a top open end 21, a bottom end 22opposite to the top open end 21, an instep part 23, an opening 24extending in a longitudinal direction from the top open end 21 to theinstep part 23, and longitudinal marginal edges 25 confining the opening24.

The lining 30 has two opposite ends 31 on two sides of the opening 24,the opposite ends 31 being fixedly connected to an inner surface of theupper 20. The lining 30 has an outer surface opposite to the innersurface of the upper 20. A receiving space 70 which is open at its topend is defined within the lining 30 and the upper 20 to receive the footof a user. The material of the lining 30 may be an elastic plasticmaterial, a cotton fabric, an elastic fabric, natural leather, syntheticleather, a foam, or a composite material, such as neoprene, PU, PVC, PE,etc.

The connecting unit 40 is fixed to the lining 30. In this embodiment,the connecting unit 40 is a stitch line provided on the lining 30. If awaterproof seal is necessary, the lining 30 maybe subjected to awaterproofing treatment at where the connecting unit or stitch line 40is provided. For example, a waterproof breathable tape may be attachedto, or a waterproof sealing material may be applied to an inner surfaceof the lining 30 along the connecting unit 40. Furthermore, although theconnecting unit 40 is a stitch line in this embodiment, it may be anyconnecting unit which can position the adjustment pad unit 50 to thelining 30. Examples of such connecting unit may be Velcro straps, maleand female studs, and a combination of stitches, Velcro straps, and maleand female studs.

The adjustment pad unit 50 is disposed between the outer surface of thelining 30 and the inner surface of the upper 20. The adjustment pad unit50 has a first pad section 51 and a second pad section 52 which areinterconnected serially so that the second pad section 52 extendslongitudinally from the first pad section 51. The first pad section 51has a fixing end 511 extending to the second pad section 52. The secondpad section 52 has a fixing end 521 extending to the first pad section51. The fixing ends 511 and 521 of the first and second pad sections 51,52 are sewn to the lining 30 by providing the connecting unit or stitchline 40 transversely between the first and second pad sections 51 and 52and in connection with the fixing ends 511 and 512. The first and secondpad sections 51 and 52 can be stacked by folding the adjustment pad unit50 along the stitch line 40. In this embodiment, the first and secondpad sections 51 and 52 are filled with a compressible resilientmaterial, such as foam, or rubber foam, e.g. EVA, and have the samethickness and length. The first and second pad sections 51, 52 areformed as an integral body so that the fixing ends 511 and 521 areinterconnected together. Of course, the thickness and length of thefirst and second pad sections 51, 52 may be different according to thepresent invention. In addition, the outer sides of the first and secondpad sections 51, 52 may be provided with fasteners, such as Velcrostraps, or male and female studs, so that the first and second padssections 51, 52 are firmly placed in a stack after the adjustment padunit 50 is folded. Similarly, the inner sides of the first and secondpad sections 51, 52 and the outer surface of the lining 30 may beprovided with Velcro straps or male and female fasteners so that thefirst and second pad sections 51, 52, when placed in a stack, can befirmly held on the outer surface of the lining 30.

The closure member 60 is attached to and extends longitudinally alongthe marginal edges 25 of the upper 20. The closure member 60 in thisembodiment is a zipper. When the closure member or zipper 60 is pulledupward, the opening 24 is closed so that the adjustment pad unit 50pressurizes the lining 30, or the receiving space 70 of the lining 30and the upper 20.

Referring to FIG. 3, if the foot of the user is thin, the first andsecond pad sections 51, 52 may be unfolded so that the first and secondpad sections 51, 52 extend respectively upward and downward and lie overthe outer surface of the lining 30. The second pad section 52 is placedat a position substantially corresponding to the instep part 23 of theupper 20. When the closure member 60 is in a closed position (see FIG.3), the closure member 60 presses the second pad section 52 against theinstep of the user's foot.

Referring to FIG. 5, in case the thickness of the user's foot is rathersmall, the first pad section 51 may be folded downward and over thesecond pad section 52 so that the adjustment pad unit 50 becomes adouble-layered configuration and the thickness thereof is double. Whenthe closure member 60 closes the opening 24, the closure member 60causes the first and second pad sections 51 and 52 to pressurize thelining 30 and the receiving space 70 at a location corresponding to theinstep 23 of the upper 20. As such, the shoe fits the instep of theuser's foot.

Referring to FIG. 4, if the user's foot is thick, the second pad section52 may be folded upward and over the first pad section 51. In this case,the first and second pad sections 51, 52 are removed from the insteppart 23 of the upper 20. When the closure member 60 closes the opening24, no pressure will be applied to the receiving space 70 at the insteppart 23.

The pull-on type shoe of the present invention not only enables the userto put on and take off the shoe easily but also permits adjustment ofthe shoe through the adjustment pad unit 50 to provide a good fit forthe user's foot, whether thin or thick. The present invention thusalleviates the problem of the conventional pull-on type shoe which isusually loose at its instep part for users having thin feet.

In addition, due to the adjustability of the pull-on type shoe accordingto the present invention, additional lasts necessary to producestandard-sized shoes with degrees of different fatness can be dispensedwith. As such, not only the manufacturing cost can be decreased, theproduction process can also be simplified. Furthermore, it is notnecessary for wholesalers and retailers to stock shoes having differentdegrees of fatness, thereby eliminating the inventory problemencountered by the prior art.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is generally similar to the first embodiment. However,an adjustment pad unit 50′ of the second preferred embodiment includes afirst pad section 51′ which has a first upper part 512′ and a firstlower part 513′ extending from the first upper part 512′, and a secondpad section 52′ which has a second upper part 522′ and a second lowerpart 523′ extending from the second upper part 522′. The first lowerpart 513′ has a fixing end 5131′ extending toward the second pad section52′. The second upper part 522′ has a fixing end 5221′ extending towardthe first pad section 51′. The connecting unit or stitch line 40 isprovided transversely between the first and second pad sections 51′ and52′ for sewing the fixing ends 5131′ and 5221′ to the lining 30. Assuch, the first and second pad sections 51′ and 52′ can be folded alongthe stitch line 40 one above the other to form a stack.

Referring to FIG. 8, when it is unnecessary to pressurize the receivingspace 70 at the instep part 23, the second pad section 52′ may be foldedupward and over the first pad section 51′. Referring to FIG. 9, thefirst upper part 512′ may be folded over the first lower part 513′ toform a stack. The second lower part 523′ is folded over the second upperpart 522′ to form a stack. The stacked first upper and lower parts 512′and 513′ are then folded over the stacked second upper and lower parts5221 and 523′, thus forming a stack having four layers. The first andsecond pad sections 51′ and 52′ formed as a four-layered stack canprovide the receiving space 70 with a greater pressurizing force. Apartfrom the four-layered stack, the adjustment pad unit of the presentinvention may be formed into any suitable number of pad sections thathave suitable length and thickness and that may be implemented in asymmetric or asymmetric manner. In the second embodiment, the adjustmentpad unit 50′ has a symmetric configuration since the number of theadjustment pad sections 511′ and 512′ is even, and the number and lengthof the folded layers of the pad sections 511′ and 512′ are symmetrical.Of course, an asymmetric configuration, such as that including two partsin one of the pad sections and three parts in the other one of the padsections, may be provided as desired.

Referring to FIG. 10, the third preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is generally similar to the second preferred embodiment.However, the lining 30 of the third preferred embodiment is providedwith an upper pocket 32 at a location corresponding to the first padsection 51′, and a lower pocket 33 at a location corresponding to thesecond pad section 52′. The upper and lower pockets 32, 33 receiverespectively the first and second pad sections 51′ and 52′.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the fourth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is generally similar to the first preferredembodiment. However, the adjustment pad 50A in this embodiment includesa first pad section 51A, and two second pad sections 52A which aresuperimposed one upon the other. The first pad section 51A has a firstupper part 512A and a first lower part 513A extending longitudinally anddownwardly from the first upper part 512A. The first lower part 513A hasa fixing end 5131A extending to the second pad sections 52A, and has afemale fastening strap or Velcro fastening strap 5132A. The second padsections 52A have fixing ends 521A extending toward the first padsection 51A. The upper second pad section 52A is provided with a malefastening strap or Velcro strap 524A. The connecting unit or stitch line40 is provided between the first and second pad sections 51A and 52A.The upper second pad section 52A is fixed to the lower second padsection 52A through the stitch line 40. The upper second pad section 52Aengages releaseably the first lower part 513A through theinterengagement of the male and female Velcro fastening straps 5132A and524A, which include hook-and-loop fasteners as is known in the art, whenthe upper second pad section 52A lies over the first lower part 513A ofthe first pad section 51A. The upper second pad section 52A which liesover the first pad section 51A provides an extra thickness foradjustment. Note that the first and second pad sections 51A, 52A aredifferent in length.

Referring to FIG. 13, the fifth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is generally similar to the first preferred embodiment.However, the fifth embodiment includes a connecting unit which includesa first or female fastening strap or female Velcro strap 40A that issecured to the outer surface of the lining 30 along the longitudinaldirection of the opening 24. The adjustment pad unit 50 has the firstpad section 51 provided with a second or male fastening strap or maleVelcro strap 514, and the second pad section 52 provided with a secondor male fastening strap or male Velcro strap 525. The first and secondpad sections 51 and 52 are attached releaseably to the lining 30 throughthe interengagement of the second fastening straps 514 and 525 with thefirst fastening strap 40A. As such, the first and second pad sections 51and 52 can be placed interchangeably at upper and lower positions, andthe first and second pad sections 51 and 52 can be attached to the firstfastening strap or female Velcro fastening strap 40A at differentheight.

Referring to FIG. 14, the sixth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is substantially similar to the fifth preferred embodiment.However, in the sixth embodiment, an adjustment pad unit 50B includes afirst pad section 51′ and a second pad section 52. The first pad section51′ includes a first upper part 512′ and a first lower part 513′extending downward from the first upper part 512′. The first upper andlower parts 512′ and 513′ are provided respectively with male Velcrofastening straps 514 to engage releaseably with the female Velcrofastening strap 40A, whereas the second pad section 52 is provided witha male Velcro fastening strap 525 to engage releaseably with the femaleVelcro fastening strap 40A.

Referring to FIG. 15, when the second pad section 52 is attached to thefemale Velcro fastening strap 40A through the male Velcro fasteningstrap 525 and when the first pad section 51′ is placed over the secondpad section 52′ and attached to the female Velcro fastening strap 40Athrough the male Velcro fastening strap 514, a two-layered stack isformed. The thickness of the adjustment pad unit 50B is provided by thetwo-layered stack.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the first lower part 513′ is attached to thefemale Velcro fastening strap 40A through the first male Velcrofastening strap 514, and when the first upper part 512′ is folded overthe first lower part 513′ to sandwich the second pad section 52therebetween and to engage the second pad section 52 through theinterengagement of male and female Velcro fastening straps 525, 526 witha female Velcro fastening strap 516 and a male Velcro fastening strap515, respectively, the adjustment pad unit 50B has a thickness providedby a three-layered stack.

Referring to FIG. 17, the seventh embodiment of the present invention issubstantially similar to the fifth embodiment. However, in the seventhembodiment, an adjustment pad unit 50C includes a first pad section 51and two second pad sections 52 which are separate from each other andwhich are arranged serially along the longitudinal direction of theclosure member 60. The first pad section 51 is provided with a maleVelcro fastening strap 514 and a female Velcro fastening strap 516,whereas the second pad sections 52 are provided respectively with a maleVelcro fastening strap 525 and a female Velcro fastening strap 526. Thefirst and second pad sections 51 and 52 are attached releaseably to thelining 30 by engaging the female Velcro fastening strap 40A.

Referring to FIG. 18, one of the second pad sections 52 is attached tothe female Velcro fastening strap 40A through the male Velcro fasteningstrap 525 and is juxtaposed with the first pad section 51 along alongitudinal direction. The other one of the second pad sections 52spans the juxtaposed first and second pad sections 51 and 52 and areattached to the same through the interengagement of the male Velcrofastening strap 525 with female Velcro fastening straps 516, 526. Thethickness of the adjustment pad unit 50C is therefore equal to thethickness of a two-layered stack.

Referring to FIG. 19, the second pad sections 52 are placed one abovethe other and are interengaged through male and female Velcro fasteningstraps 525, 526. The lower second pad section 52 is attached to thefemale Velcro fastening strap 40A through the male Velcro fasteningstrap 525. The first pad section 51 is super imposed on the second padsections 52 and is engaged with the upper second pad section 52 throughthe interengagement of the male Velcro fastening strap 514 and thefemale Velcro fastening strap 526. A three-layered stack is thereforeformed. The thickness of the adjustment pad unit 50C is therefore equalto the thickness of the three-layered stack.

Referring to FIG. 20, the eighth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is substantially similar to the fifth embodiment. However, theeighth embodiment includes an adjustment pad unit 50D which includes afirst pad section 51 and two second pad sections 52 that areinterconnected serially along a longitudinal direction. The first padsection 51 is provided with a male Velcro fastening strap 514, whereasthe second pad sections 52 are provided with respective male Velcrofastening straps 525. The first and second pad sections 51, 52 areattached releasably to the lining 30 by the engagement of the femaleVelcro fastening strap 40A with the male Velcro fastening straps 514 and525.

Referring to FIG. 21, the ninth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment.However, in the ninth embodiment, an adjustment pad unit 50E includes afirst pad section 51E and two second pad sections 52E which areconnected to two opposite sides of the first pad section 51E and areparallel to the first pad section 51E. The first pad section 51E has afirst fixing end 511E which is secured to the lining 30 through theconnecting unit or stitch line 40 that extends in a transversedirection. The first and second pad sections 51E and 52E can be in adownward position as shown in FIG. 21 or can be turned to an upwardposition as shown in FIG. 22. As shown in FIG. 23, the second padsections 52E may be folded over the first pad section 51E.

Referring to FIG. 24, the tenth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is substantially similar to the ninth preferred embodiment.However, the tenth preferred embodiment comprises a connecting unit 40Bwhich includes three female fastening studs 41 secured to the lining 30and spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction. The firstpad section 51E is provided with a male stud 517E. The first and secondpad sections 51E and 52E are attached to the lining 30 by mating themale stud 517E with one of the female studs 41. The height of the firstand second pad sections 51 and 52 may be changed by selecting a suitableone of the female studs 41.

Referring to FIG. 25, the eleventh preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is substantially similar to the ninth preferred embodiment.However, the eleven preferred embodiment comprises an adjustment padunit 50F which includes one row of three parallel pad sections 51F andanother row of three parallel pad sections 52F, both rows being arrangedin the same manner as the pad sections of the adjustment pad unit 50E ofthe ninth preferred embodiment. The connecting unit or stitch line 40 isattached to the lining 30 between two middle pad sections 51F and 52F.The pad sections 51F and 52F may be folded one over the other along thestitch line 40. In addition, the two pad sections 51F or 52F which areplaced on two sides of the middle pad section 51F or 52F, may be foldedto lie over the middle pad section 51F or 52F.

Referring to FIG. 26, the twelfth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is generally similar to the ninth preferred embodiment.However, an adjustment pad unit 50G of this embodiment includes firstpad sections 52G which are interconnected in parallel in the same manneras the pad sections 51E and 52E of the ninth preferred embodiment, and asecond pad section 51G which is spaced apart from the first pad section52G along a longitudinal direction. The second pad section 51G includestwo interconnected parts 512G and 513G. The connecting unit 40G includesa first stitch line 43G which extends longitudinally between twoadjacent first pad sections 52G, and a second stitch line 42G whichextends transversely and fixes one end of the second pad section 51G tothe lining 30.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations andequivalent arrangements.

1. A shoe comprising: an outsole; an upper having a bottom open endconnected to said outsole, a top open end, and an instep part; a liningdisposed inside said upper and having an outer surface opposite to aninner surface of said upper; and an adjustment pad unit provided betweensaid outer surface of said lining and said inner surface of said upperand mounted on one of said upper and said lining, said adjustment padunit including a plurality of pad sections.
 2. The shoe as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a connecting unit attached to said liningunit to mount said adjustment pad unit on said lining unit.
 3. The shoeas claimed in claim 2, wherein said upper further includes an openingwhich extends from said top open end to said instep part, a pair ofmarginal edges defining said opening, and a closure member attached toand extending along said marginal edges to close or open said opening,said lining being disposed across said opening and having two oppositeends connected to said inner surface of said upper.
 4. The shoe asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said pad sections are interconnected, saidadjustment pad unit being foldable to lie said pad sections one abovethe other.
 5. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said connectingunit includes a stitch line which is provided between and connected totwo adjacent ones of said pad sections, said adjustment pad unit beingfoldable along said stitch line.
 6. The shoe as claimed in claim 5,wherein at least one of said pad sections includes at least twointerconnected parts and is foldable to lie said interconnected partsone above the other.
 7. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said padsections have the same thickness.
 8. The shoe as claimed in claim 1,wherein said pad sections have the same length.
 9. The shoe as claimedin claim 1, wherein said pad sections have different thicknesses. 10.The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pad sections have differentlengths.
 11. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liningincludes at least one pocket to receive at least one of said padsections.
 12. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pad sectionsare interconnected and are arranged serially.
 13. The shoe as claimed inclaim 12, wherein said pad sections include a first pad section having afirst fixing end, and two second pad sections which are superimposed oneupon the other and which have second fixing ends, said connecting unitincluding a stitch line to fix said first and second fixing ends to saidlining.
 14. The shoe as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first padsection and one of said second pad sections are provided withinterengageable hook-and-loop fasteners.
 15. The shoe as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said connecting unit includes a first fastening strapattached to said lining, said pad sections having respectively secondfastening straps engageable with said first fastening strap, said firstand second fastening straps including hook-and-loop fasteners.
 16. Theshoe as claimed in claim 15, wherein said pad sections areinterconnected and are arranged serially.
 17. The shoe as claimed inclaim 16, wherein at least one of said pad sections has at least twointerconnected parts and is foldable to lie said interconnected partsone above the other.
 18. The shoe as claimed in claim 15, wherein saidpad sections are separate from each other and are arranged serially. 19.The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pad sections includes atleast one row of said pad sections which are substantially parallel toeach other.
 20. The shoe as claimed in claim 19, wherein said row ofsaid pad sections include a middle pad section, said connecting unitincluding a stitch line disposed at one end of said middle pad section.21. The shoe as claimed in claim 19, wherein said connecting unitincludes a plurality of first fastening studs which are spaced apartfrom each other, one of said pad sections of said row having a secondfastening stud releaseably engageable with a selected one of said firstfastening studs, said first and second fastening studs being formed asmale and female studs.
 22. The shoe as claimed in claim 19, wherein saidconnecting unit includes a stitch line disposed between two adjacentones of said pad sections of said row.
 23. The shoe as claimed in claim19, wherein said pad sections include two rows of said pad sections,said pad sections in each row being substantially parallel to eachother, said connecting unit including a stitch line provided between andconnected to said two rows.
 24. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid pad sections include first pad sections interconnected in parallel,and at least one second pad section which is spaced apart from saidfirst pad sections, said connecting unit including a first stitch linewhich is disposed between two adjacent ones of said first pad sections,and a second stitch line which is disposed at one end of said second padsection.